The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-17
THE DEBT AND THE LEVY.


by this time the tactics of the Democratic
party respecting the financial affairs of the
State. They do understand that under Dem
ocratic administrations, by some remarkal e
law, the debt Of the State is invariably in
creased, while it is under Republican admin
istrations alone that debts are reduced or paid
off. This is the custom, the invariable and
unvarying history of the two parties The
Democratic party took hold Of the State when
the Treasury was out of debt and with a sur
plus il it. By means Of mismanagement and
the grossest incompetency and demagogism
the debt has been steadily increased, until
now it is more than two millions of dollars
more than for many years. and the surplus
has been changed into deficiency that must
be made up by all sorts of temporary shifts. The
Democratic party. in charge of the legislative
and administrative departments of the State,
authorize expenditures and incur debts with
out making any provision whatever for their
payment. They do this deliberately and in
IoutAoually, III OIuer 10 20 UeloIo LILO peoPio
with specious and demagogic show of low
taxation, while at the same time the process
of borrowing money is going on, the interest
burdens of the people are being increased,
and a debt incurred which must be paid off at
some time. It is the old plan of borrowing
money to pay your debts The Democrats
have an idea that they can ''shin' along as
borrowers for good many years, and when
the time for payment draws near the people
will feel the pressure to such an extent as to
elect the Republican party to Office, which
will then come in and pay off the public obi
cations. Thereupon the Democrats can
raise the cry that the Republicans have in
creased the taxes, so that by the time the
burden is lifted, and the State in good shape
again, they can return to power, to enter upon
another era of profigacy and incompetency
This sort of game has been played often
| enough, and the Republican House of Repre-
sentatives should not be party to its repeti-
ton at this Legislature. The Democratic party
has involved the State in debt; let them pro-
vide the means for paying it off. The first
thing to do is for the House to pass the tax
levy bill, providing rate of taxation high
enough to discharge the expenses Of the State
made necessary by Democratic administra-
ton and to create sinking fund for the pay
ment of the debt incurred by Democratic in
efficiency and demagogy Let the Demo
cratic Senate face the necessities of the case,
| and provide the means for carrying on the
State government and for paying off the Dem
ocratic debt. Until the Senate does this, the
House should not pass the loan bill. When
the Democrats assume their responsibility TO,
their own administration of public affairs,
then the Republicans will help them in Dor
rowing the money to keep the State govern
ment running. But let there be no more
demagogical nonsense such as there has beer
for the past fifteen years. If extraordinary
expenditures are to be incurred and debts
created, let the Democrats take their full share
Of the duty and responsibility of providing by
taxation for their payment.